Champions League Round of 16: Barcelona to meet Napoli, Manchester City drawn against Copenhagen
The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 draw has set up some mouth-watering clashes across Europe. Defending champions Manchester City will face Danish side Copenhagen, while Arsenal have been drawn against Portuguese outfit Porto.
Spanish and Italian champions will lock horns as Barcelona prepare for a high-stakes encounter with Napoli, promising another thrilling chapter in Europe’s premier club competition.
Meanwhile, unseeded Paris Saint-Germain avoided the bigger names, drawing Group D winners Real Sociedad. The Parisians, who have yet to lift the trophy in recent years, will look to Kylian Mbappé to lead them past the Basque side.
City, who secured a historic treble last season under Pep Guardiola by defeating Inter Milan in the final, aim to continue their dominance in Europe. Napoli, struggling in Serie A following Luciano Spalletti’s summer exit, face a tough test against La Liga champions Barcelona. Despite winning the league last season under Xavi Hernández, Barcelona have experienced a rocky campaign, sparking speculation over a potential managerial change. The Catalans are also preparing for the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia in January before their European commitments resume.
Elsewhere, last season’s runners-up Inter Milan face Atletico Madrid, while PSV Eindhoven meet Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich take on Lazio.
The Round of 16 first-leg fixtures are scheduled for February 13–14 and 20–21, with the return legs set for March 5–6 and 12–13.
